story

The Little Engineer — FFfAW Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 7 Comments

Title:  The Little Engineer
Source: Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers – Week of 10-02 through 10-08-2018
Word count: 145 words

This week’s photo prompt is provided by Yinglan. Thank you Yinglan!

Guy’s notoriety lay in taking things apart. He wasn’t always successful at reassembling them in working order. Mother could count on Guy dismantling an appliance at the precise moment she needed it the most. Like the time he investigated the microwaves inner workings the night before Thanksgiving. They made a mad rush to the store to purchase a replacement and save dinner.

Fatalities littered the garage, a waffle maker, toaster, several coffee pots, cell phones, a garage door opener, a heating pad, and two extension cords. Guy’s latest victim was the control for a remotely operated car. But Guy had discovered a resource to help him. Online, he located schematics drawings detailing the proper working order for appliances. He had cracked the control case, but he managed fixed it with the help of the internet schematics and a milk carton. His next stop was the garage.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Ode to Georgia — FFfPP

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 8 Comments

Title:  Ode to Georgia
Source:  FLASH FICTION FOR THE PURPOSEFUL PRACTITIONER- 2018 WEEK #40
Word count:  185 words

black-and-white-photo-white-cow-skull

1361226489r9nsl MorgueFile

If Georgia could use a sun-bleached cow’s skull, Kacy figured she could. When she asked her mother, her mother got weird.

“You want what? You need your head examined. No one in their right mind wants a dried-up cow skull. It’s against the law.” Her mother continued ranting.

Kacy stopped listening, planning to stop at the butcher shop after school.

“You’re one of those artsy kids, aren’t you?” the butcher asked concentrating on his work.

“I’m an artist too, you know. Most people don’t think so. The way I figure it, this animal,” he paused, jabbing the knifepoint at the hunk of meat he was cutting. “This animal gave its life so we can eat. It’s my job to use every bit. Make sure nothing gets wasted.”

“Come back next week. I’ll have your cow skull. Okay?”

Kacy nodded.

A week later, the butcher presented her with her very own cow skull.

“You’ll do a good job. That’s one lucky cow,” he said handing Kacy the carefully wrapped and tied package.

He smiled as Kacy left the shop, holding the skull tightly against her chest.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Trick or Treat — 3 Line Tales

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 8 Comments

From Sonya’s 3LineTales at Only100Words.
You can find the original prompt here. Thank you, Sonya.

snakes-in-baskets

photo by Jordan Gellie via Unsplash

Nani and I spent the day baking, creating our baskets of tricks, making sure every detail was perfect.

When the doorbell rang we opened our baskets to reveal our bread snakes to the children.

When they screamed and ran away, we smiled at our clever Trick or Treat surprise.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

In Time of Need — FFfPP

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 4 Comments

Title:  In Time of Need
Source:  FLASH FICTION FOR THE PURPOSEFUL PRACTITIONER- 2018 WEEK #38
Word count: 175 words

foggy-meadow-with-fence-and-ghostly-trees

14946675160vn34 AugustMorgue File

It was a recurring dream, a nightmare really. She walked through fog barely able to see, her next steps uncertain and precarious. Searching.  Pursuing and pursued. The dark specter, a constant force, pushing her forward, denying her rest, threatening to overtake her. And then she screamed.

This time she did not wake. The dream was real. Her heart pounded, echoed in her ears, drowned rational thought. Her stomach tightened, choked her throat, cut off her air supply. She gasped and lurched forward, not ready to die. Salvation lay hidden in the fog.

Running now, adrenaline coursing through her body pushing her past her limits, and beyond the edge. Her next step did not hit the ground, she tumbled, falling, reaching, grasping nothing. A hand caught her, suspended in time, she searched the hooded face and saw only darkness.

“I can grant more than Salvation.”

The words filled her head, and she closed her eyes.

“Where is Salvation in your time of need?”

Despair consumed her.

“You only need to say the word.”

She nodded.

“Yes.”

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

B&B Breakfast — Friday Fictioneers

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 69 Comments

Title:  B&B Breakfast
Source:  Friday Fictioneers sponsored by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple
Word count: 100 words

PHOTO PROMPT © Priorhouse

“Bacon, woman! I want bacon.”

“The sign said, ‘Canadian Bacon’, dear.”

He stabbed his fork into the meat disc and lifted it into the air. Grease and meat juices sprayed across the table as he shook the fork at her.

“Does this look like bacon?” His face turned red as he spoke, and the woman shrank in her seat.

“It said…”

“I know ‘Canadian Bacon’. They advertised American Breakfast. I expect American bacon.”

“I’d expect you’d have better luck in America than in Yorkshire, sir,” the waitress said as she plucked the fork from his hand and exited the room.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Almost Friends — 100WW

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 2 Comments

Title:  Almost Friends
Source:  100 Word Wednesday: Week 90
Word count: 100 words

I saw the big brute and froze. Too late, big red ears flapped, slapping his jowls as he lumbered toward me, stopping a few feet away.

My heart was a jackhammer trying to crack a concrete chest. He heard it, advanced, then collapsed, his pointy, sniffing nose buried in fallen leaves. Eye to eye we stared. Stalemate.

My nose betrayed me, twitching twice. His eyebrow leaped skyward, his ears followed, he lunged, and a long, pink tongue licked my head leaving a slobbery streak between my ears.

The spell broken, I jackrabbited through the leaves. He barked but didn’t follow.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

 

Tap and Stitch — FFfAW Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 17 Comments

Title: Tap and Stitch
Source: Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers
Word count: 175 words

walls-of-mismatched-shoes-sandals-on-peg-board

This week’s photo prompt is provided by Yarnspinnerr. Thank you Yarnspinnerr!

“Are they asleep yet?” Tap whispered from the inky shadows of the rain barrel.

“The light is out, but we should wait, make sure they’re fast asleep.”

“Stitch, you’re too cautious. They’ll never hear us.”

“Shh. You mean they’ll never hear me.”

Tap scooped up a pebble and lobbed it in Stitch’s direction. The stone skidded to a stop inches from his feet. Even in the darkness Tap saw the smile spreading across his face. She loved Stitch and his sense of humor. They had been together forever, on a joyous adventure. She smiled, remembering while they waited.

“Tap, come on,” Stitch hissed as he walked through the brick wall. Tap snapped back to reality and followed.

Inside the workshop Tap and Stitch stared at the pile of shoe leather.

“Ooh,” Tap rubbed her hands over the leather before jumping into the center of the pile.

Stitch giggled and landed in the pile next to her.

“Ready to make shoes?” Stitch asked.

Tap rubbed the supple leather against her cheek and nodded.

“Ready,” she said.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Alive

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 7 Comments
girl-dancing-in-fall-leaves

Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash

This is me today, and it feels good to be alive. It is the revolution they call the beginning of the end, the time of dying and death.

But I see possibilities. The crisp fall air lifts my spirits, releases me from the oppression and isolation of the summer heat. I snuggle into the wool scarf that encircles me, comforts me, keeps my heart warm.

Nature’s colors explode, and my soul expands reaching to share the splendor with those who wish to see.

Leaves crunch beneath my feet creating the song of exaltation, honoring what has come before, elevating now, recognizing future’s potential.  It proclaims, right here, right now, it feels good to be alive.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Delusional Distraction — 3 Line Tales

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 5 Comments

From Sonya’s 3LineTales at Only100Words.
You can find the original prompt here. Thank you, Sonya.

1950s-style-TV

photo by Sven Scheuermeier via Unsplash

Come one, come all, gather your family and prepare to be amazed by the newest invention.

Forget your fears and the fallout shelters, the emanate risk of nuclear destruction, and Sputnik the spy.

It is Sunday night, and it is a Wonderful World.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The Angler — 100 Word Wednesday

/ JoHawkTheWriter

Title: The Angler
Source:  100 Word Wednesday: Week 89
Word count: 100 words

coral-reef-aquarium

Image by Bikurgurl

Fisk’s head protruded from his hiding spot. Nothing caught his attention, so he ducked back inside, but he kept a watchful eye looking outward. He wiggled and shifted in the tight confines. He spent most of his time waiting, waiting and watching. Fisk blinked, opened his mouth wide and snapped it closed. A flash of yellow caught his attention, a damselfish, just out of striking distance. His nose detected a familiar scent, a crab was scuttling his way. He waited until the right moment, then lunged, clamping his powerful jaws around his victim. Crab was the Fisk Moray’s favorite meal.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer